Compression-type package and method of forming the same



J. T. LlZlO Sept. 28, 1965 COMPRESSION-TYPE PACKAGE AND METHOD OF FORMING THE SAME Filed June 25, 1962 INVENTOR. JOS EPH T. LIZIO ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,208,587 COMPRESSION -TYPE PACKAGE AND METHOD OF FORMING THE SAME Joseph T. Lizio, 794 White Birch Lane, Wantagh, N.Y. Filed June 25, 1962, Ser. No, 204,798 3 Claims. (Cl. 206-632) (Granted under Title 35, US. Code (1952), sec. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

This invention relates to a package and more particularly to a novel compression type package and method of forming the same to contain and maintain a compressible material therein in its compressed condition and for subsequent expansion therein.

It has long been a problem to provide a package in which compressible articles or materials could be packaged in their compressed condition thereby enabling a consequent reduction in the cubage and space that such materials would occupy in shipment and also in subsequent storage. Inasmuch as freight and shipping costs, as well as storage space, is charged on the basis of space rather than weight that the packaged articles occupy, articles that are light in weight yet .soft and compressible. and that are normally expanded beyond their compressed condition, require a greater or larger cubic space than heavier but smaller materials. In consequence, shipping and storage costs are higher for such larger lighter goods than for heavier but smaller goods. Such shipping and storage costs add materially to the ultimate cost of the goods to the consumer and because they require such great amounts of space for their storage, it is sometimes difficult if not impossible to purchase or keep on hand large quantities of the same even through such quantities may be required for use.

The desideratum of this invention is to provide a compression-type packing and a method of forming and utilizing the same in such manner that the articles to be packaged are reduced from their normal size to a compressed condition without affecting the nature or ultimate intended use of the same, enabling a subsequent decrease in shipping and storage space from that heretofore required, thereby resulting in materially lowered costs.

An object of the invention is to provide a package and method of retaining such relatively light compressible yet bulky goods in their compressed condition and prior to their use and without necessitating their removal from their original compression type package, enabling such items to be returned to their usable expanded condition within the same package.

Another object of the invention is to provide a compression type package and method of making the same of a flexible construction which when completely closed is capable of maintaining sterility whereby surgical dressings and like materials may be packaged in their compressed condition, sterilized, and subsequently permitted to expand to their expanded usable condition, all within the sterile compression type package.

Another object and resultant feature of the invention is to permit compressible articles as surgical dressings and the like to be compression packaged in their com pressed condition and subsequently sterilized while still in the compression package; a feature of the inven-tion residing in the details of construction of the compression package wherein the same permits such compressible articles to bloom and expand to their full usable state within the compression package thereby keeping such items sterile and ready for immediate use.

Another object and feature of the invention is the pro- 3,208,587 Patented Sept. 28, 1965 vision of a compression-type package that can be quickly and efficiently manipulated to apply a resisting force on the articles contained therein in their compressed condition such that the normal tendency of the articles to bloom or expand to return to their expanded condition will be immediately opposed, resisted and restrained, thereby causing them to retain their compressed condition until such time as the use of such articles is. required. This compression-type package is in contradistinction to the non-compressive type packages of the disclosures in the United States Letters Patent to Moore, 2,506,311, Hurley et al., 2,918,377 and Barnes et al., 2,865,768, all of which are well known in the packaging art but none of which has been found applicable for compression-type packaging treated by the instant invention.

Other and further objects of this invention reside in the structures and arrangements hereinafter more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a completed compression-type package constructed according to the teaching of the invention,

FIG. 2 is a view of the compression-type package of FIG. 1 in its open position before use,

FIG. 3 is a view of the compression-type package of FIG. 1 in an intermediate closed position,

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating the details of the compression-type package with the material therein expanded from its compressed condition,

.FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a modified compression-type package constructed according to the teaching of the invention,

FIG. 6 is another embodiment of the compression-type package of the invention,

FIG. 7 illustrates the compression-type packages of FIGS. 5 and 6 in their open condition before use,

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic view of compressible articles in their bloomed or expanded condition, and

FIG. 10 is a view of the articles shown in FIG. 9 in their compressed condition for compression packing according to the teaching of the invention.

Referring now to FIGS. '1 to 4 inclusive, the compression-type package there shown is generally identified by the numeral 10. It comprises a container 12 of pliable, bendable, flexible material that is capable of being formed easily and flexing under pressure so as to conform to the shape of articles placed therewithin. In practice, it has been found that paper and other similar flexible and foldable materials may be employed. Hence, the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited by the nature or construction of the material by which the container 12 is constructed.

The container 12 may be formed as a bag as shown in FIG. 2. One of the ends 14 thereof may be provided initially closed while the opposite end may be open as at 16 to permit the entry or insertion therethrough of the compressible articles that must be contained in the container 12. The container 12 is thus initially presented for use in its condition as shown in FIG. 2 wherein the closed end 14 is rested on any convenient surface while the open end 16 is presented open for insertion of the articles thereinto.

The container 12 may be said to be divided into two parts, one of which is a material containing portion 18 and the other an expansion chamber portion 20. Its use is particularly adapted in connection with the compression packing or articles of a compressible nature. By way of explanation, surgical pads, sponges, napkins and sanitary napkins serve as exemplary illustrations of compressible articles that may be compression packaged in the compression-type package 10. Illustrated in FIG. 9 are a dozen sanitary napkins 22 stacked in the manner in which they are presently presented for loose packaging in boxes or other containers. At present, the articles 22 of FIG. 9 are loosely packed in boxes or bags in their normal fully expanded condition. Although they are relatively light in weight, they are considered bulky. Hence, they are difiicult to store in large quantities and expensive to transport because of their bulk.

FIG. 10 illustrates the same number of sanitary napkins 22 of FIG. 9 after the same are compressed for compression packing in the flexible container 12 of the compression package 10. It will be noted that the compressible articles 22 are susceptible of being reduced materially in height because of their porous nature. Heretofore, it has not been possible to compression pack the articles 22 in their compressed condition as shown in FIG. 10 and also in such manner that they will remain sterile or clean throughout shipment and immediately up to the moment of use. Advantage is taken of the inherent characteristics of the compressible porous nature of the articles 22. To do so, they are initially compressed from their normally expanded or, as normally referred to in the trade, bloomed condition of FIG. 9 to their compressed condition of FIG. 10. The compressed condition of the articles 22 of FIG. 10 constitutes a material reduction in their normal height without, however, affecting the weight of such articles.

The now compressed articles 22 as shown in FIG. 10 are placed within the container 12 in the material containing portion 18 thereof by inserting the same through the open end 16. In practice, it has been found that it is immaterial whether the articles 22 are compressed into their condition as shown in FIG. 10 before they are placed into the container 12 of the compression type package 10 or after. It has been found that after the articles 22 are initially compressed as in FIG. 10, they will retain their compressed condition and shape for a short period of time. The length of this time during which they will re tain their compressed condition without commencing to bloom or expand back again to their expanded condition, depends upon the nature and quality of the material of which the articles 22 are constructed. Under usual circumstances, the hiatus in time between the compression of the articles 22 to their condition as shown in FIG. 10 and the time they will begin to bloom or expand again to their normal size is that period during which the compression-type package 10 must be manipulated.

Immediately after the articles 22 are put into their compressed condition as shown in FIG. 10, a restraint or opposing force must be applied to them. This is accomplished by folding the flexible container 12 as close as possible to conform to the compressed articles 22 therein so that the walls of the container 12 will be in substantially the shape and size of the articles 22 immediately after they are placed into their compressed condition. Such folds are shown at 24 and 26. It is important that these folds be made before the articles 22 have had an opportunity to bloom or expand back again to their expanded condition as they would normally. It has been found in practice that once the folds 26 and 24 are physically made in the material of the container 12, the same provides a sufficient restraining force opposing the blooming or expansion of the compressed article 22 contained within the portion 18 of the container 12.

Further, the formation of the folds 24 and 26 serve to define the extent of the material containing portion 18 of the container 12. Because the portion 18 conforms substantially to the size and shape of the compressed articles 22 positioned therewithin, such articles are prevented from blooming or expanding and are now retained in their compressed condition by the opposing forces placed thereagainst by the defining walls of the portion 18. The folds 24 additionally serve to define the extent of the expansion chamber portion 20 that is normally in co-extensive communication with the material containing portion 18. As soon as the fold 24 is made, the co-extensive communciation between the portion 18 and the expansion chamber 20 is closed. Hence, the articles 22 now contained in their compressed condition in the portion 18 are prevented from blooming or expanding since there is no place into which the same may bloom or expand.

The open end 16 is now folded closed by bending the same over upon itself as shown in FIG. 3. During the operation of folding close and bending the open end 16 in the manner as shown in FIG. 3, the same may be sealed by the application of glue or any other convenient adhesive placed within and along the bend of the edge 28 thereof. The glue or adhesive placed at the edge 28 now serves to completely close the interior of the container 12 from communication with an contamination by the surrounding atmosphere. The ease and accuracy with which the folds 24 and 26 are made may be enhanced by pre-creasing or weakening the walls of the container 12 at 24a and 26a as shown in FIG. 2 by the dash lines.

After the container 12 is sealed at 28, the expansion chamber portion 20 is now in condition to be reduced in size. Once again, in actual practice, it has been found convenient to bend the expansion chamber portion 20 clockwise about and at the fold 24 in the direction of the arrows 30 so it fold wraps over and about the outer peripheral surface of the material containing portion 18. The length of the expansion chamber portion 20 will determine the extent to which is wraps about the periphery of portion 18.

In referring to FIG. 1, it will be noted that the same is illustrated as extending completely around the bottom end 14 and then up again to overlap itself at the top in the area of the fold 24. Thereafter, securing tapes or other sealing means 32 may be applied to releasably hold the fold wrapped expansion chamber portion 20 in position about the material containing portion 18. For purposes of illustration, three tapes 32 have been illustrated. The fold wrapping of the expansion chamber portion 20 about the periphery of the material containing portion 18 adds an additional force and strength to the walls of the portion 18 that serve to oppose any possible blooming or expansion of the compressed articles 22 contained therewithin.

However, when it becomes necessary to use the articles 22, the tapes or securing means 32 are then cut or severed. The fold wrapped expansion chamber portion 20 is unwrapped from about the integral portion 18 and positioned upright as in FIG. 3, a position which the container 12, by its very body, will normally assume if left unattended. Thus, the compression package 10 is once again placed in its condition as shown in FIG. 3. The upper edge 28 is sealed closed as is the lower end 14 so that for all intents and purposes, the interior of the container 12 and its contents are free from communication with and contamination by the surrounding atmosphere. The folds 24 can be pinched slightly to break their tension against the compressed articles 22 contained in the portion 18, or the compression package 10 may be inverted momentarily to break the tension and force of the folds 24.

If the articles 22 had been sterilized prior to being compression packed in the container 12, the compressiontype package 10 may now be left to set a while as shown in FIG. 3. The closed construction of the container 12 will keep the articles 22 therein free of contamination and allow the same to retain their sterilized characteristics. Because the tension and opposing force of the folds 24 has been broken and relieved, the articles 22 will bloom and expand upward into the now open coextensive communication with chamber 20 as shown in FIG. 4. On the other hand, if the compressed articles 22 need to be sterilized, the whole package is placed as a unit into an autoclave or other sterilizer structure.

Once again, it has been found that when the compression package 10 is subjected to a sterilizing process, the heat and moisture applied to the compressed articles 22 contained therewithin causes such articles to bloom or expand rapidly upward into the chamber 20. Because the tension of the folds 24 has been broken, the expanding articles 22 are no longer restricted from blooming upward into the co-extensive communicating expansion chamber portion 20. In order to permit the adequate expansion or blooming of the articles 22 and to prevent the rupture or tearing of the walls of the container 12 during the expansion of such articles, the expansion chamber is made of such size and shape that it will have sufficient room to accommodate the fully expanded articles without affecting the seals provided at the end 14 or the edge 28. The now sterilized articles 22 may be removed from the package 10 whenever the need for the same is required.

Although the fold wrapping of the expansion chamber portion 20 about the material containing portion 18 is one method of preventing communication between the chamber and portion 18, FIG. 8 illustrates another arrangement. In FIG. 8, the expansion chamber 20 is folded in a zig-zag pattern whereby the same is folded fiat against the adjacent surface of the top of the material containing portion 18, the zig-zag folding being identified in FIG. 8 by the numeral 34.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the embodiment there shown is generally identified by the numeral 100. The compression-type package 100 illustrates another form of the invention wherein the gusset flaps 38 of the lower end 14 that normally closes the material containing portion 18 is now inverted and is employed as an entranceway or opening through which the articles 22 may be inserted into the material containing portion 18. This is illustrated in FIG. 7. In the embodiment 100, the expansion chamber portion 20 is pre-folded either in the manner shown in FIG. 8 or spirally wound as at 36 to extend along, what will now be the bottom of the portion 18. Thus, in distinguishing from the previous embodiment 10 of FIGS. 1 to 4 and 8 wherein the expansion chamber 20 served as the entranceway for the insertion of the article 22 into the portion 18, in the present embodiment 100 of FIG. 5, the size of the expansion chamber portion 20 is reduced before the use of the container 12. This may be done either by spiral rolling the same about itself or zig-zag folding the same in the manner as shown in FIG. 8.

The container of FIG. 5 is then inverted as in FIG. 7 so that the expansion chamber portion 20 now becomes the bottom and the flaps of the end 14 are opened to face upward and provide an entranceway to the material containing portion 18. Thereafter, the articles 22 are inserted through the now open end 14 between the gusset flaps 38 thereof and moved downwardly into the portion 18. If the articles 22 are inserted in their compressed condition into the portion 18, the gusset flaps 38 of the open end 14 are folded at 40 which may have been previously weakened or pre-folded. After the gusset flaps 38 are closed, the end 14 is sealed airtight closed by any convenient adhesive, glue or other sealing means. In this way, the articles 22 are retained sterile in their compressed condition in the portion 18 until permitted normal expansion.

When it is desired to permit the compressed articles 22 to bloom or expand again to their normal condition, the compression package 100 of FIG. 5 is positioned on any convenient surface with its end 14 now serving as the bottom. A restraining tear tab 42 secured in place over the fold rolled zig-zag folded structure 36 of the expansion chamber portion 20 is manually pulled free. The fold 36 is manually lifted and straightened until it assumes the position as shown in FIG. 3. The fold lines 24 are pinched or the container 12 is shaken to reduce the tension of such fold lines on the compressed articles 22. Thereafter, the articles 22 are permitted to expand normally from their containing portion 18 upward into the now contiguous co-extending communicating portion 20. The intermediate position of expansion of such articles 22 is shown in FIG. 4 wherein the same have now expanded normally well up into the confines of the expansion chamber 20. It is to be noted that the height and size of such expansion chamber 20 is great enough to accommodate the full expansion of such articles thereinto without affecting the seal of the edge 28 or that of the end 14.

The embodiment generally identified by the numeral 200 shown in FIG. 6 is similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 and differs therefrom only in the means for releasing the folded structure 36 of the expansion chamber portion 20. Here again,a tab or other securing v means 46 overlaps a portion of the length of the structure 36 to prevent its accidental displacement opening or expansion. A tear tab string 48 is positioned beneath the securing tab 46. When the string 48 is pulled, it tears the tab 46 thereby permitting the structure 36 to be unfolded, thus allowing the expansion chamber portion 20 to be placed upright in the manner as shown in FIG. 3 and in co-extensive communication with the portion 18 therebeneath. Thereafter, the compressed articles 22 contained in the containing portion 18 are permitted to normally bloom or expand upward into the expansion portion 20 to fill the same or at least a portion thereof as illustrated in FIG. 4.

In the preceding disclosure, the expansion chamber 20 has been described as being reduced in extent. This manner of reduction has been described as capable of accomplishment in various ways except, however, that the specification makes reference to the terms fold, folding or fold wrapping. It is to be understood that the reference to folding and its derivatives is intended to include such equivalent folding procedures as rolling and wrapping without limitation to its technical or dictionary meaning.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to several preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated and in their operations may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A sealed compressible commodity package comprising in combination, a flexible container sealed at one end and initially open at the other end, a compressible commodity occupying a space within the sealed container less than the capacity of the latter whether the commodity be in a compressed or fully expanded condition, said container having a material containing portion of a size and shape conforming to that of the compressed commodity contained therein, and an expansion chamber portion in co-extensive communication with said material containing portion and co-acting therewith to accommo date the commodity in its expanded condition, the open end of said container being sealed after the commodity is positioned therein, the expansion chamber portion being prefolded to close communication between said chamber and the material containing portion and apply a force to restrain the compressed commodity against expansion and unfoldable to release such force and to receive the expanding commodity while the ends of the container remain sealed, and means securing the expansion chamber in said prefolded force-applying position operable to effect release of the chamber and permit unfolding thereof and expansion of the commodity thereinto without affecting the sealed condition of the container.

2. A sealed compressible commodity package characterized by a bag having a capacity exceeding the size of the commodity when the latter is in fully expanded condition and having a portion thereof sealed at one end and folded in the direction of the other end to conform and secure the bag to substantially the size and shape of the commodity in its fully compressed state and in opposition to the inherent tendency of the commodity to expand, and means securing said portion of the bag in said folded condition and operable to release the same to permit unfolding thereof and expansion of the commodity thereinto without affecting the seal at said end of said bag portion.

3. In a compression package for the sterile containment of material in its compressed condition and for the subsequent expansion of said material from said compressed condition, a container fully closed about all the sides thereof and being of a foldable flexible material, said container having a material containing portion and an expansion chamber each in co-extensive communication with the other, folds in said container material between said material containing portion and said expansion chamber defining the extent of said material containing portion conforming the same to substantially the size and shape of material contained therein in its compressed condition and to apply a force on such compressed material to restrain the same in its compressed condition in said portion, said chamber being prefolded relative to said material containing portion to retain said portion in position conforming to the size and shape of the material therein and applying the aforesaid force to said material and to close the communication between said chamber and material containing portion, and means releasably retaining said chamber folded.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,909,126 5/33 Satterthwaite 22962 2,328,766 9/43 Yates.

2,828,858 4/58 Tooke 206-47 2,844,249 7/58 Gibson 206-84 2,863,305 12/58 Sheperd 206-84 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

EARLE I. DRUMMOND, Examiner. 

3. IN A COMPRESSION PACKAGE FOR THE STERILE CONTAINMENT OF MATERIAL IN ITS COMPRESSED CONDITION AND FOR THE SUBSEQUENT EXPANSION OF SAID MATERIAL FROM SAID COMPRESSED CONDITION, A CONTAINER FULLY CLOSED ABOUT ALL THE SIDES THEREOF AND BEING OF A FOLDABLE FLEXIBLE MATERIAL, SAID CONTAINER HAVING A MATERIAL CONTAINING PORTIN AND AN EXPANSION CHAMBER EACH IN CO-EXTENSIVE COMMUNICATION WITH THE OTHER, FOLDS IN SAID CONTAINER MATERIAL BETWEEN SAID MATERIAL CONTAINING PORTION AND SAID EXPANSION CHAMBER DEFINING THE EXTENT OF SAID MATERIAL CONTAINING PORTION CONFORMING THE SAME TO SUBSTANTIALLY THE SIZE AND SHAPE OF MATERIAL CONTAINED THEREIN IN ITS COMPRESSED CONDITION AND TO APPLY A FORCE ON SUCH COMPRESSED MATERIAL TO RESTRAIN THE SAME IN ITS COMPRESSED CONDITION IN SAID PORTION, SAID CHAMBER BEING PREFOLDED RELATIVE TO SAID MATERILA CONTAINING TO THE SIZE AND SHAPE OF THE MATERIAL TION CONFORMING TO THE SIZE AND SHAPE OF THE MATERIAL THEREIN AND APPLYING THE AFORESAID FORCE TO SAID MATERIAL AND TO CLOSE THE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID CHAMBER AND MATERIAL CONTAINING PORTION, AND MEANS RELEASABLE RETAINING SAID CHAMBER FOLDED. 